Free The Campus Trilogy by Anonymous

increase in numbers had made it necessary to obtain more. I went on to describe the delays that had taken place as well asthe students’ impatience with the lack of books. I also pointed out that student satisfaction with an important issue for the university.
    When I finished, Pilkington picked up his pen and pointed it at the library regulations. “It says here,” he stated, “that all books should be ordered before the beginning of term.” Penelope interrupted, stressing that circumstances had changed.
    Pilkington took no notice of Penelope’s comment, and pulled out a series of emails. “So you sent these emails?” he asked.
    “Yes,” I replied. “But only because no notice was taken of the request. The students were becoming increasingly agitated.”
    “But you did pursue Mrs Sloth … and repeatedly sent her emails ….”
    “What else could I do?” I asked.
    “And then you sent her this inflammatory letter,” he continued .
    “Only because she would not respond to my emails.”
    “Really, Harry. You have shown little tact in the way you handled the entire matter. You must remember that you are a professor and Mrs Sloth is an assistant librarian. Your outburst was deeply threatening …”
    “Threatening …?”
    “Quite frankly, I think you were abusing your position as a professor in this university.”
    Penelope’s cat had become increasingly distressed, and began meowing. He was trying to claw his way out of the cat basket and made wailing sounds. “I’m sorry, Penelope,” Pilkington said crossly. “This is an important meeting, and you can’t deposit your cat in my office if it continues to be uncontrolled.”
    “Could he go in your secretary’s office?” she asked.
    “I happen to know Wendy’s allergic to cats,” Pilkington said. “I’m afraid we’ll have to postpone this meeting if he stays.”
    Penelope shook her head. “Well, John,” she said. “I really am sorry, but I’ve got to take him to the vet at twelve o’clock. There’s nowhere else for him to go.”
    Pilkington looked confused. Penelope’s cat continued to wail. “The meeting will have to be adjourned,” he announced standing up. “I simply can’t concentrate with that wretched cat screaming.”
    Penelope got up, scooped up her papers and marched off with her cat. I followed behind. On the stairs she stopped. “I am sorry, Harry,” she said as she turned around. “But that man is totally insensitive. Rufus isn’t himself, and he’s got to see the doctor.” She stalked off, and I heard Pilkington’s door slam.
    Later in the day, I received an email from Pilkington asking that we resume the discussion without Penelope’s cat. He suggested we meet on Friday at three o’clock. I phoned Penelope and left a message asking if she could come. She emailed me back, mentioning that Rufus had vomited up a hair ball and was now much better.
    On Friday I met Penelope in my room before the meeting. She brought photographs of Rufus, since I had asked after his health. We walked across the campus to Pilkington’s office. When Pilkington opened his door, he looked relieved when he saw there was no cat. I asked if he had any pets, and to our astonishment he replied that in his view the only reason to keep an animal was to eat it. Penelope thought this was a joke in bad taste. Pilkington, however, was serious. Citing Thomas Aquinas’ opinion that animals lack souls, he maintained that animals were created only for the benefit of man. Penelope disagreed – loudly and vehemently. This was yet another inauspicious start to our meeting.
    “Now that we are not being interrupted,” Pilkington began, “I think we can address the issues raised by Jenny’s letter.”
    “Look,” I said. “It wasn’t my intention to upset Jenny. I think she should have ordered books for my students. That’s her job. But I don’t want to make this a matter of principle. I’m quite willing to write an apology for upsetting her,